Automatic paper-feeding and stencil-printing apparatus.



Patented Dec. l6, I902. No. 7I5,764. A. B- DICK AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDINGAND STENCIL PRINTING APPARATUS.

(Application filed July 19. 1901.)

A0 MUCH.) 5 ShBBLSr-3h88f L Inventor Attys.

No. 7l5,764. Patented Dec. |6,'I902.

A. B. DICK.

AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDING AND STENCIL PRINTING APPARATUS.

(Applicaticil filed m 19, 100m 5 Sheds-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Invehtor M M Att ys.

Witnesses 1- "cams PETERS c0. PHOTO-TM No. 7l5,764. Patented o ls, I902.

A. a. DICK. AUTOIATIC PAPER FEEDING AND STENCIL PRINTING APPARATUS.

(Application filed July 19, 1901.)

SSheets-Shoet 3. I

(No Iodel.)

Inventor Witnesses we uonms PETER! 00.. mmo-umo; WASNINOTON. n. c. f

,Patantad Dec. |6.--|9o2;

m. 7l5,764. A

' V A B. DICK.

AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDlNG.AND STENCIL PRINTING APPARATUS.

(Applicatioq filed July 19, 1901-) 5 Shan -Shoat 4.

(lo Model.)

I 0 m e m I Witnesses:

Tm: scams PETERS cc. pnofoumou \wsnmumu, n. c,

No. 75,764. 1 Patented Dec. 16,1902.

A. 8'. men v AUTOMATIC PAPER FEEDING AND STENCIL PRINTING APPARATUS.

[Application filed July 19, 1901.) (No Model.) v 5 Shaeta -Sheet 5,

Win ess es: Inventor Attys.

.NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT B. DICK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. DICK COMPANY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC PAPER-FEEDING AND STENCIL-PRINTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 715,764, datedDecember 16, 1902.

Application filed -Inly 19, 1901. Serial No. 68,891. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. DICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in AutomaticPaper-Feeding and Stencil-Printing Apparatus, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates particularly to auto- IO matic apparatus forfeeding successive sheets of paper into a stencil-printing device, andthe invention is of the type which I describe in my Patent No. 657,920,dated September 18, 1900, wherein the sheets to be printed are supportedin a vertical pile and are removed one at a time from the bottomthereof, the edge of the bottom sheet being first drawn back off of asupporting shelf or ledge and being then fed forward from contact withthe pile.

My present invention, like that of my patent referred to, is designedespecially for use in connection with a stencil-printing machine of thecharacter employing an oscillating stencil-carrier and a'reciprocatingpapercarrying frame cooperating therewith, as I describe in myapplication for patent filed June 10, 1899, Serial No. 720,008. In anapplication filed on even date herewith I describe and claim certainimprovements in stencil-printing apparatus of this type, and I whatevertype; but they may be employed 5 alone as convenient apparatus foreffecting the automatic feeding of separate sheets in other arts wheresuch an operation is desirable.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improved automaticpaper-feeding apparatus which shall be simple in construction, effectivein use, and which shall be very compact in its arrangement of parts,

so that when applied, for example, to a stencilprinting machine theentire apparatus will not be unduly bulky in its make-up.

The specific form of my invention which I shall presently describe hasbeen designed for use with the improvements in stencilprinting machinesmade the subject of my concurrent application, and when the two devicesare thus used together they constitute an improved complete apparatusembodying novel combinations.

In order that the invention may be better understood, attention isdirected to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of astencil-printing machine of the type described, showing my improvedautomatic feeding device applied thereto; Fig. 2, an elevation thereof,viewed from the operating side; Fig. 3, an elevation viewed from theother side; Fig. 4, a longitudinal sectional View; and Figs. 5, 6, 7,and 8, detailed diagrams illustrating the position of the feedingmechanism during successive phases of its operation.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by thesame numerals of reference.

The stencil-printing machine, as above stated, embodies the improvementswhich I describe and claim in my application for patent filed on evendate herewith. That machine employs a base or foundation 1, side frames2, an oscillating stencil-carrier 22, a reciprocating paper-carryingframe 17 18, a gear 15 on the shaft of the stencil-carrier meshing witha rack on the paper-carrying frame, a pinion 5 connected to said gear, asegment 6 meshing with said pinion and carried on a pivoted lever 7, alink 10 for oscillating said pivoted lever, a spur-gear 9 with whichsaid link is connected, a pinion l1 meshing with and driving said gear,a balance-wheel 12 on the shaft of said pinion, a handle 14 for turningsaid balance-wheel, a bed 57 from which the sheets are fed into themachine after they are removed from the pile, limiting-fingers 62against which the successive sheets are brought to bring them intoproper alinement before being fed into the machine, and grippers 67 forgripping the sheets, carrying them through the stencil-printing machine,and releasing them at the end of the positive stroke. These grippers, asI describe in said application, are opened immediately at the end of thepositive stroke and are closed on the sheet at the end of the negativestroke.

Referring now to my present improvements in automatic feeding mechanism,I mount a suitable frame 81 on the bed 57, holding the same in place byscrews 82. This frame is provided with a flat supporting-bed 83 for thepile and at its extreme forward edge with a ledge or shoulder 84. At thefront I arrange a vertical shoulder 85, against which the sheets will beplaced in a pile 86. At the rear is an adjustable gage 87 and at thesides adjustable gages 88 for properly confining the pile, as will beunderstood. The pile of sheets 86 will be sustained between the gages 87and 88 and the shoulder 85 and be supported by the supporting-bed 83 andledge 84, as shown. The supporting-bed 83 is preferably provided withgage-marks 89, by which the gages 88 may be adjusted to different widthsof sheets. Said supportingbed is provided with longitudinal cut-awayportions, forming ribs 90, to reduce the friction and to enable thesheets to be more easily drawn out at the bottom of the pile. Pressureis applied to the top of the pile by a top plate 91, having a handle 92and which rests directly on the pile, being guided in its verticaldescent as the pile diminishes by the gages 87 and 88. At its front thetop plate 91 is provided with a downwardlyspring-pressed plate 93, thetension of which is adjusted by adjusting-nuts 94. The function of thespring-pressed plate 93 is to keep the sheets pressed flatly down uponthe shelf or ledge 84. The top 91 is also provided with a spring-pressedbar, rod, roller, or plate 95, which gives to the sheets a downwardcurvature immediately behind the feed-roller 96, whereby when thefeed-roller is rotated rear- Wardly the bottom sheet will follow itsnatural inclination to bend downward more readily than if this elementwere not employed. Immediately in front of the supporting-bed 83 is aroller 97, over which the bottom sheet is drawn during the feedingoperation. An inclined plate 98 is arranged directly behind the shoulderor ledge 84 and is elastically impelled upward bya spring 99, so as toalways engage the bottom sheet. The purpose of this plate is to preventthe sheet after it has been withdrawn from the pile and is being fed ina forward direction from engaging with the shoulder 84 and to cause thesheet to be directed downward between the constantly-rotatingfeed-rollers, to be described. These constantly-rotatin g feed-rollers(which will be so referred to to distinguish them from the feed-roller96, which is intermittently rotatable) comprise a main roller 100 andauxiliary rollers 101 and 102, driven by friction therefrom, all of saidrollers being preferably rubber-covered. The main roller 100is formedwith grooves 103 in its periphery, (see Fig. 1,) and engaging in each ofsaid grooves is the upwardly-curved forward end of astripper 104,carried by bars 105. The rear ends of the outside strippers (three inall being shown) are bent downward at 106, while the central stripper iscontinued horizontally, as shown, to permit the paper-feeding finger 107to pass freely beneath the central stripper (to the position shown inFig. 5). Extending between the smaller feed-rollers 101 and 102 is ashield or guide 108, which compels the sheets after passing beneaththeroller 101 to pass between the rollers 100 and 102 onto the bed 57and beneath the strippers 104. Mounted in guides 109 beneath the bed 57is a rod 110, which carries the feedingfinger 107, the latter beingadjustable with respect to said rod and being secured in any positionthereon by a screw 111. The feeding-finger and the screw 111 reciprocatein a slot 112, formed in the bed 57. The rod 110 is normally returnedfrom the position shown in Fig. 5 to that indicated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8by a spring 113, and any shock incurred by this movement is taken up bya buffer-spring 114 at its forward end. Depending from the front end ofthe rod is an arm 115, which cooperates with a bufier 116, carried by anarm 117, secured to the rear cross member 18 of the paper-carryingframe, whereby it will be seen that if the paper carrying frame is movedforward on its positive stroke the buffer 116 will engage the arm 115 tomove the rod 110 from the position shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 to thatshown in Fig. 5. As I have already stated, the roller 100 rotatescontinuously, and said roller is therefore mounted on a shaft carrying apinion 118, which meshes with and is driven by the spur-gear 9. Theroller 101 is carried by the horizontal arms of bell-cranks 119, thevertical arms of which are pressed rearwardly by springs 120. The roller102 is carried. by levers 121, the rear ends of which are presseddownward by springs 122. Thus both rollers 101 and 102 will be pressedelastically against the continuously-rotating feed-roller 100. Theintermittently-rotating feed-roller 96 is preferably provided with afluted or corrugated surface,

against which the sheets will be pressed by the weight of the top plate91 and by the action of the buckling-rod 95. The shaft 123 of thefeedroller 96 is provided with a clutch member 124, which cooperateswith a pin 125 on said shaft, whereby the shaft will be caused to rotatewith said clutch member. Loosely mounted on said shaft is a sleeve 126,forming the other member of the clutch, and the clutch members areadapted to be engaged together by a spring 127 normally forcing themember 124 inwardly. A lever 128 is pivoted to an arm 129 and carriestwo pins 130, which work in a groove in the member 124. Said lever isprovided at its end with an antifriction-roller 131, which cooperateswith a cam 132 on a toothed segment 133. The lever 128 is also providedwith a downwardly-extending arm 134, which is engaged by a rod 135,extending across the machine and provided with a finger-piece 136 at itsend. Byforcing the rod 135 inwardly the lever 128 will be tilted todisengage the clutch members 124 and 126. The segment 133 engages with aspur-gear 137 on the sleeve or clutch member 126. Mounted on the shaft 8of the spur-gear 9 is an arm 138, carrying a pin 139, which engages witha finger 140 on an arm 141, loosely carried by said shaft. A link 142connects the end of the arm 141 with the segment 133. In order to guidethe paper sidewise in its movements on the bed 57, I employ side gages143, which are adjustable on the bed by screws 144, as shown in Figs. 2and 3.

Assuming the sheets to be placed in the pile 86, resting on thesupporting-bed 83 of the feeding apparatus and further supported by theroller 97, the intermittent feed-roller 96, the plate 98, and the ledge84 being confined by the gages 87 and 88 and the front shoulder beingpressed downward by the top plate 91 and being buckled immediatelybehind the feed-roller 96, as shown, by the action of the buckling baror roller 95, the operation will be as follows: As the handle 14 isrotated the pinion 11, gear 9, and link 10 will oscillate the toothedsegment 6 to thereby oscillate the stencil-carrier and reciprocate thepaper-carrying frame 17 18 with respect to the stencil-carrier. As thestencilcarrier reaches the end of its negative or nonprinting stroke thegrippers 67 will be closed; but as no sheet will be in position inengagement with the limiting-fingers 62 the succeeding positive orprinting stroke will be non-active. During this positive stroke therotation of the shaft 8, through the pin 139 and finger 140, rotates thearm 141 to move the rack of the segment 133 downward, rotating the gear137 rearwardly (the clutch members 124 and 126 being in engagement) androtating the intermittently operating feed-roller 96 in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 5, causing the bottom sheet of the pile to be loopeddownward between said feedroller and the roller 97. After the arm 141passes the center the segment 133 will be reversed, rotating theintermittently-operating feed-roller 96 in the direction of the arrow inFig. 6 and straightening out the loop in the bottom sheet to feed saidsheet forward. The deflecting-plate 98 will direct the bottom sheet tothe gap between the feed-rollers 100 and 101, and said sheet will be fedby said feed-rollers between the shield 108 into the gap between thefeed-rollers 100 and 102, laying the bottom sheet flatwise on the bed57. The pinion 118 being of much smaller size than the gear 9, thefeed-rollers 100, 101, and 102 will move at a higher peripheral speedthan the intermittently-operating feed-roller in Figs. 6 and 7, onto thebed 57.

96, so that as long as the sheet is engaged by the feed-rollers 100 and101 it will be drawn very rapidly from beneath the pile. When thesegment 133 nears the end of its upward movement, the cam 132 willengage the roller 131 to swing the lever 128 outwardly and move theclutch member 124 against the tension of the spring 127, therebydisconnecting the clutch and freeing the feed-roller 96. This actiontakes place an instant after the front edge of the sheet has beengripped between the feed-rollers 100 and 10], so that the operation ofthe latter feed-rollers draws the sheet over theintermittently-operating feed-roller 96, which will be permitted to turnat the increased surface speed of the feedroller 100. The feed-roller 96therefore exerts no feeding effect on the sheet when the feed-rollers100, 101, and 102 are positively operating, and after the sheet haspassed clear of the feed-roller 96 (see Fig. 7) the latter roller stops.During the positive stroke the segment 133 will be again depressed,allowing the clutch members 124 and 126 to again engage, and theintermittently-operating feed-roller 96 will again perform its properfunctions. After a sheet has been fed onto the bed 57 by the action ofthe feed-rollers 100 and 102 and during the positive or printing strokeof the machine the butter 116 on the paper-carrying frame will engagethe arm 115, moving the feeding-finger 107 in contact with the sheet andcarrying the latter forward into engagement with the limiting-fingers62, ready to be engaged by the grippers 67 at the end of the followingnegative stroke. Thus it will be seen that as a sheet is being drawn bythe grippers 67 on the positive stroke of the paper-carrying frame asucceeding sheet is being fed by the rollers 100, 101, and 102 in anopposite direction to said sheet, as shown It will thus be seen that thesheets will be completely reversed from the position in which they areplaced in the pile to that which they take when deposited on the bed 57,so that when they are assembled in the pile they are placed facedownward. By thus giving the sheets a complete reversal and depositingthem on the bed directly underneath the pile I very materially shortenthe length of the complete apparatus.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of means for sustainingthe sheets in a substantially vertical pile, means for removing thesheets successively from the bottom of the pile, reversing theirdirection of movement and depositing them in an inverted positionbeneath the pile, and means for removing the sheets successively fromthe latter position in a direction corresponding to that in which theywere removed from the pile, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of means for sustainingthe sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a bed beneath said pile,means for removing the sheets successively from the bottom of the pile,reversing their movement, inverting them and depositing them upon thebed, and means for reversely removing the sheets from said bed,substantially as set forth.

3. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of means for sustainingthe sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge or shoulder forsupporting the forward ends of said sheets, a bed beneath the pile,means for removing the bottom sheets successively from said ledge, meansfor depositing the sheets successively in an inverted position on saidbed, and means for removing the sheets from said bed, substantially asset forth.

4. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of means for sustainingthe sheets in a substantially vertical pile, an intermittently-operatingfeed-roller for successively removing the sheets from the bottom of saidpile, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheetssuccessively delivered by the intermittently-operating feed-roller, forreversing the sheets and for depositing them on said bed, and means forremoving the sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

5. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of means for sustainingthe sheets in a substantially vertical pile, an intermittently-operatingfeed-roller for successively removing the sheets from the bottom of saidpile, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheetssuccessively delivered by the intermittently-operating feed-roller, forreversing the sheets and for depositing them on said bed, and areciprocating feeding-finger for removing the sheets from said bed,substantially as set forth.

6. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed forsustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge orshoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, anintermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, saidfeed-roller being mounted in bearings immovable with respect to thepile, means for rotating said-feed-roller first in one direction andthen in the other for removing the bottom sheet from said pile, andcontinuouslyoperating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets thus removedby the intermittently-operating feed-roller, substantially as set forth.

7. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed forsustaining the sheets in. a substantially vertical pile, a ledge orshoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, anintermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet,means for rotating said feed-roller first in one direction and then inthe other for removing the bottom sheet from said pile,continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets thus removedby the intermittently-operating feed-roller, and means for disengagingthe intermittently operating feed-roller after the bottom sheet has beenengaged by the continuously-operating feedrollers, substantially as setforth.

8. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed forsustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge orshoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, anintermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, saidfeed-roller being mounted in bearings immovable with respect to thepile, means for rotating said feed-roller first in one direction andthen in the other for removing the bottom sheet from said pile,continuouslyoperating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets thus removedby the intermittently-operating feed-roller, and a bed beneath thesupporting-bed onto which the sheets are deposited by saidcontinuously-operating feed-rollers, substantially as set forth.

9. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed forsustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge orshoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, anintermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, saidroller being mounted in bearings immovable With respect to the pile,means for rotating said feed-roller first in one direction and then inthe other for removing the bottom sheet from said pile,continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets thus removedby the intermittently-operating feedroller, a bed beneath thesupporting-bed onto which the sheets are deposited by saidcontinuously-operating feed-rollers, and means for removing the sheetsfrom said bed, substantially as set forth.

10. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bedfor sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge orshoulder for supporting the forward ends of said sheets, anintermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, saidroller being mounted in bearings immovable with respect to the pile,means for rotating said feed-roller first in one direction and then inthe other for removing the bottom sheet from said pile,continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheets thus removedby the intermittently-operating feedroller, a bed beneath thesupporting-bed onto which the sheets are deposited by saidcontinuously-operating feed-rollers, and a feeding-finger for removingthe sheets from said bed, substantially as set forth.

11. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bedfor sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge orshoulder for supporting the forward edges of said sheets, aspring-pressed stripping-plate engaging the bottom sheet behind saidledge or shoulder, and means for withdrawing the bottom sheet from saidledge and for then feeding it forward, substantially as set forth.

12. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bedfor sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge orshoulder for supporting the forward edges of said sheets, aspring-pressed stripping-plate engaging the bottom sheet behind saidledge or shoulder, means for withdrawing the bottom sheet from saidledge and for then feeding it forward, and continuouslyoperatingfeed-rollers for engaging the sheet thus fed forward and removing itcompletely from the pile, substantially as set forth.

13. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bedfor sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge orshoulder for supporting the forward edges of said sheets, aspring-pressed stripping-plate engaging the bottom sheet behind saidledge or shoulder, means for withdrawing the bottom sheet from saidledge and for then feeding it forward, continuously-operatingfeed-rollers for engaging the sheet thus fed forward and removing itcompletely from the pile, and a bed beneath the supportingbed, ontowhich the sheet is deposited in an inverted position with respect to thesheets on the pile, substantially as set forth.

14. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bedfor sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge orshoulder for supporting the forward edges of said sheets, aspring-pressed stripping-plate engaging the bottom sheet behind saidledge or shoulder, means for withdrawing the bottom sheet from saidledge and for then feeding it forward, continuously-operatingfeed-rollers for engaging the sheet thus fed forward and removing itcompletely from the pile, a bed beneath the supporting-bed, onto whichthe sheet is deposited in an inverted position with respect to thesheets on the pile, and means for removing the sheets from said bed,substantially as set forth.

15. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bedfor sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, a ledge orshoulder for supporting the forward edges of said sheets, aspring-pressed stripping-plate engaging the bottom sheet behind saidledge or shoulder, means for withdrawing the bottom sheet from saidledge and for then feeding it forward, continuously-operatingfeed-rollers for engaging the sheet thus fed forward and removing itcompletely from the pile, a bed beneath the supporting-bed, onto whichthe sheet is deposited in an inverted position with respect to thesheets on the pile, and a feeding-finger for removing the sheets fromsaid bed, substantially as set forth.

16. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bedfor sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, anintermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet formoving the bottom sheet rearwardly and for then feeding the bottom sheetin a forward direction, means engaging the top of the pile for bucklingthe sheets immediately behind said roller, and continuously-operatingfeed-rollers for engaging the sheet delivered by the intermittentlyoperating feed -roller and for completely removing the sheet from thepile, substantially as set forth.

17. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bedfor sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, anintermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, formoving the bottom sheet rearwardly and for then feeding the bottom sheetin a forward direction, means for buckling the sheets immediately behindsaid roller, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging the sheetdelivered by the intermittently-operating feed-roller and for completelyremoving the sheet from the pile, and a bed beneath the supporting-bed,onto which the sheet is deposited by said continuously-operatingfeed-rollers in an inverted position with respect to the sheets in thepile, substantially as set forth.

18. In a paper'feeding' apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bedfor sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, an

intermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet, formoving the bottom sheet rearwardly and for then feeding the bottom sheetin a forward direction, means for buckling the sheets immediately behindsaid roller, continuously-operating feed-rollers for engaging thesheet-delivered by the intermittently-operating feed-roller and forcompletely removing the sheet from the pile, a bed beneath thesupporting-bed, onto which the sheet is deposited by saidcontinuouslyoperating feed-rollers in an inverted position with respectto the sheets in the pile, and means for removing the sheets from saidbed, substantially as set forth.

19. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bedfor sustaining the sheets in a substantially vertical pile, anintermittently-operating feed-roller for engaging the bottom sheet formoving the bottom sheet rearwardly and for then feeding the bottom sheetin a forward direction, and a spring-pressed bar engaging the top of thepile for buckling the sheets immediately be hind said roller,substantially as set forth.

20. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed onwhich the sheets are carried in an approximately vertical pile, anintermittently operating feedroller engaging the bottom sheet of saidpile, a gear on the shaft of said feed-roller, a toothed segmentengaging said gear, and means for oscillating said segment, whereby theroller will be rotated first in one direction and then in the other,substantially as set forth.

21. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination of a supporting-bed onwhich the sheets are carried in an approximately vertical pile, anintermittently-operating feedroller engaging the bottom sheet of saidpile, a gear on the shaft of said feed-roller, a toothed segmentengaging said gear, means for oscillating said segment, whereby theroller will be rotated first in one direction and then in the other, andmeans for disconnecting the gear from its shaft at the end of one of itsoscillating movements, substantially as set forth.

22. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination with a supporting-bedcarrying the sheets in an approximately vertical pile, a feed-rollerengaging the bottom sheet of the pile, a gear on the shaft of saidfeed-roller, a clutch normally connecting said gear with the shaft, atoothed segment engaging said gear, means for oscillating said segment,and a cam on the segment for disconnecting the clutch members,substantially as set forth.

23. In a paper-feeding apparatus, the combination with a supporting-bedcarrying the sheets in an approximately vertical pile, a feed-rollerengaging the bottom sheet of the pile, a gear on the shaft of saidfeed-roller, a clutch normally connecting said gear with the shaft, atoothed segment engaging said gear, means for oscillating said segment,a cam on the segment for disconnecting the clutch members, and means formanually disconnecting the clutch members, substantially as set forth.

2%. In a stencil-printing apparatus, the

combination with a stencil-printing machine employing an oscillatingstencil-carrier, a reciprocating paper-carrying frame, and a bed fromwhich the sheets are removed by the papercarrying frame, of a supportingbed mounted above said bed and on which the sheets are carried in asubstantially vertical pile, means for removing the sheets from saidsupporting-bed and for depositing them on the bed of thestencil-printing machine, and means for removing the sheets from saidbed and directing them into engagement with the paper-carryin g frame,substantially as set forth.

25. In a stencil printing apparatus, the combination with astencil-printing machine employing an oscillating stencil-carrier, areciprocating paper-carrying frame, and a bed from which the sheets areremoved by the paper-carrying frame, of a supporting-bed mounted abovesaid bed and on which the sheets are carried in a substantially verticalpile, means for removing the sheets from said supporting-bed and fordepositing them on the bed of the stencil-printing machine, afeeding-finger for engaging the sheets deposited on said bed, andconnections between said feeding-finger and the paper-carrying frame,substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of June, 1901.

ALBERT B. DICK.

Witnesses:

FRANK L. DYER, JNO. R. TAYLOR.

